| Theodosius: The Empire at Bay Contributor(s): Williams, Stephen (Author), Friell, Gerard (Author) |
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ISBN: 0300074476 ISBN-13: 9780300074475 Publisher: Yale University Press OUR PRICE: $33.66 Product Type: Paperback - Other Formats Published: April 1998 Annotation: Theodosius I was the last Roman emperor to rule over both East and West. After the military disaster of Adrianople he had to rebuild the state by adopting a new policy of cooperation with the barbarians. He also suppressed paganism and established a unified Catholic Church by law. His reign was a turning point in the history of the late Roman Empire. The authors describe the military, political, and religious struggles of this turbulent period and analyze the far-reaching effects of his policies in the fourth and fifth centuries. "One cannot help grappling with historical issues while reading this book. Nonspecialists will find much here to reward their efforts". -- Thomas S. Burns, American Historical Review "A model of clarity and organization. Within a basically narrative structure it tells the story of the Roman Empire from Adrianople (378 CE) to the Vandal conquest of North Africa (430 CE), with particular emphasis on military and religious policies .... A rare work, in that it is valuable to students and scholars at all levels". -- Choice "A coherent narrative of the crisis-ridden years of the late fourth century, as well as a useful general discussion of the society, institutions, and structures of the late empire". -- R. Bruce Hitchner, History |
| Additional Information |
| BISAC Categories: - History | Ancient - Rome |
| Dewey: 937 |
| Series: Roman Imperial Biographies (Paperback) |
| Physical Information: 0.58" H x 6.16" W x 9.27" (0.81 lbs) 248 pages |
| Themes: - Chronological Period - Ancient (To 499 A.D.) - Cultural Region - Central Europe - Cultural Region - Italy |
| Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
| Publisher Description: Theodosius I, a towering figure in the history of the late Roman Empire and the early Church, was the last Roman emperor to rule a unified empire of East and West. His reign from 379 to 395 represents a turning point in the policies and fortunes of the late Roman Empire. In this fascinating biography, Stephen Williams and Gerard Friell examine Theodosius's life and character, placing the military, religious, and political struggles of his reign in the context of the troubled times of the empire. Drawing on literary, archaeological, and numismatic evidence, the authors describe how Theodosius was summoned to the throne after the disastrous Roman defeat by the Goths at Adrianople and was called upon to rebuild the armies and put the shattered state back together. They show how Theodosius instituted a new policy toward the barbarians, in which diplomacy played a larger role than military might at a time of increasing frontier dangers and acute manpower shortages, and how a series of political misfortunes led to the separation of the Eastern and Western empires despite his efforts. They also discuss Theodosius's importance in the Christian Church. Baptized in 380, Theodosius established the Apostolic Catholic Church as the only State religion; unlike Constantine and the other Christian emperors, he suppressed both heresy and paganism and enforced orthodoxy by law. By fully exploring these various facets of Theodosius's life and reign, Williams and Friell present a new and absorbing picture of this important emperor. |